Judge Ordered French Town to Remove the Statue of Saint John Paul II

Case information
Incident date
Country
France
Categories
  • Government Restrictions
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Political
Societal Sphere
  • Governmental
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Intolerance towards Religious Symbols
Religious Freedom / Discrimination
  • Exclusion (of individuals or ideas)

Authorities in the small French town of Ploermal are obliged to remove a statue of Saint John Paul II built in 2006. The reason which was given was the "ostentatious character" of the monument located in the public square, which is in contradiction with the secular principles of the state. This decision shocked local faithful and Mayor Parick Le Diffon vowed to appeal.

Sources:
http://www.tvp.info/19924341/francuski-sad-nakazal-usuniecie-pomnika-jana-pawla-ii-sprzeczny-z-zasada-laickosci

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2015/05/07/french-court-orders-removal-of-st-john-paul-ii-statue/